Estonian prosecutors appeal land exchange court law

Estonian public prosecutors Laura Feldmanis and Inna Ombler informed the Harju county court that they will dispute in the Tallinn District Court the decision the court made in the so-called land exchange case, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.

Feldmanis noted that the
prosecutor's office thinks the case was justified and sufficient evidence to
prove it was collected during the investigation and the prosecutor's office
still thinks that all the defendants have to be found guilty of their charges.

The Harju County Court last Tuesday
acquitted all suspects in the so-called land exchange criminal case in which
two former Estonian ministers and several prominent businessmen were accused of
bribery, deciding that the transactions that they conducted were legal.

The State Prosecutors Office
accused former environment minister Villu
Reiljan and former Land Board head Kalev
Kangur in giving information to businessmen on which land units that had
environmental protection restrictions on them, could be exchanged for which
state-owned land units. The businessmen whom Reiljan and Kangur allegedly
helped were construction company Merko
Ehitus major owner Toomas Annus,
Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Tartu region former board member Tarmo Pedjasaar, TSM company manager Einar
Vettus and Saarte Investeeringud
manager Tullio Liblik.

According to the indictment,
Kangur, Reiljan and the then agriculture minister Ester Tuiksoo received property
and favours from the businessmen for these allegedly illegal activities.

According to the indictment, 13
allegedly illegal land exchange transactions, worth 250 mln kroons or nearly 16
million euros, were conducted.

All defendants claimed at the
mammoth court process that started already on November 12, 2009 that they were
innocent of any crimes.

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